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be in perfect health, or entirely free from ailment: the pressure of his numerous cares and employments, of a public and private nature, he often felt very sensibly to be too great for his strength: he was at times much debilitated, and afflicted with a pain in his breast; but the Lord enabled him to hold on his work, and he was seldom so very unwell as to be compelled to intermit his regular service in the pulpit.

About the close of 1792, his labours were considerably augmented, in consequence of the serious indisposition of his colleague, Dr. Linn, who was threatened with pulmonic disease, and obliged, therefore, for a season, to desist from preaching. In a letter to Dr. R — , of January, 1793, he thus noticed the occurrence: "May the Lord Jesus become more precious to your soul, and you rejoice in a full assurance of his love! With respect to myself, I bless his holy name, I am strengthened in weakness, and enabled to hold on, with a desire to be found faithful until death. I am sorry to inform you, that my dear colleague, Linn, has some very unfavourable symptoms, which have greatly alarmed us. About four weeks ago, he began to spit some blood mixed with his saliva. This is considered by his physicians as an intimation of an approaching consumption, and requires great attention and care.

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He has not preached since the first appearance of that symptom; and it is to be feared he will not preach in some length of time. What the consequence will be, cannot be foreseen, but it is conjectured his future health and labours are very precarious."

In another, dated May 4th, 1793, to the same, he observed — "I have had very steady, and considerable heavy service, the whole winter and spring. — Dr. Linn expects to preach to-morrow morning, for the first time, since the beginning of last December." In another of May 11th: "My labours, the winter and spring past, have been increased and uniform, without any intermission. Last Lord's-day, Dr. Linn preached for the first time. His health appears to be restored, and I hope there is a prospect of his doing well, without any danger of relapses." — And again, in one written the following August: " greatly sympathize with the destitute congregations, and trust the Lord will send labourers in his harvest soon, to supply our numerous vacancies. There are five or six now with me, who are diligent in their studies, and of whom we may hope much good. I most sincerely wish it was in my power to do greater justice to them; but, while incumbered with the full weight of the parochialia, it is utterly